Medieval Hierarchy Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What were the two real options available to women in the Middle Ages?

Marriage or the Church.

What was the purpose of a dowry in marriage during the Middle Ages?

To attract a good husband.

A woman could inherit from her parents if she had a dowry.

False

What was the primary occupation for men above the status of serf in the Middle Ages?

Military service. Signup and view all the answers

What items did knights need to provide for themselves?

A shield Signup and view all the answers

The phrase 'bestowing accolades' means punishing someone.

False Signup and view all the answers

Match the following roles in the Church with their descriptions:

Pope = Highest authority in the Church Cardinals = Directly beneath the pope Priests = Authority extended only to their parish Monks = Living separated from the secular world Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of income did Christians owe to the Church as a tithe?

10 percent. Signup and view all the answers

The Church had to pay taxes to the government during the Middle Ages.

False Signup and view all the answers

During the construction of medieval cathedrals, the Church relied on _____ as a source of wealth.

tithing. Signup and view all the answers

What were the Middle Ages?

The period in European history between the decline of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance, also known as the Medieval period. Signup and view all the answers

Why was the Middle Ages period once referred to as the 'Dark Ages'?

Because only a limited written record survived to shed light on the time bridging the eras of the Romans and the Renaissance. Signup and view all the answers

What is the system of manorialism?

The system under which a peasant was made entirely dependent on the land and his lord. Signup and view all the answers

What was the social hierarchy in the feudal system?

It consisted of kings at the top, followed by nobles, knights, and peasants. Signup and view all the answers

How could a man or woman improve his or her social status?

By working hard to earn power or wealth, or through actions such as joining the military or entering the Church. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three orders of medieval society?

Those who pray (clergy), those who fight (nobility and knights), and those who work (peasants and serfs). Signup and view all the answers

What was the relationship between the Church and feudal states?

The Church was a central authority and received loyalty and a portion of income from feudal leaders. Signup and view all the answers

What is a fief?

Tracts of land that powerful people leased to less powerful people. Signup and view all the answers

Define a serf.

Peasants who worked on a lord's land. Signup and view all the answers

What does primogeniture mean?

A system under which land and titles were inherited by the eldest son (or other male heir). Signup and view all the answers

What is chivalry?

A code of conduct for knights that emphasized honorable behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is mercenary?

Warriors for hire. Signup and view all the answers

Define the term 'deurbanization'.

Decrease in the urban population as a result of economic or social changes. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'clergy' refer to?

People like priests and monks who have devoted their lives to the Church. Signup and view all the answers

What is a villein?

Serfs who worked land on behalf of their lord. Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of knights?

Members of a trained warrior class who protected the king's land. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of nobles in the feudal system?

They receive land as a grant from the king in exchange for loyalty and taxes. Signup and view all the answers

Define 'social mobility' in the context of the Middle Ages.

The ability to move up or down social classes, which was limited during this period. Signup and view all the answers

What options did younger sons of nobles have for gaining land?

They could join the military, train as squires, enter apprenticeship, or become clergymen. Signup and view all the answers

How did women fare in terms of social mobility during the Middle Ages?

Women had very little opportunity to change their position in society. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'three-field system'?

An innovation of the Middle Ages in which 1/3 of the farmland was left fallow, or unplanted, each season. Signup and view all the answers

What are marauders?

A band of outlaws that raided and attacked villages in search of valuables. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Middle Ages

Period from the 5th to the 15th century, bridging the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance.
Once labeled the "Dark Ages" due to the scarcity of written records; now recognized as a time of significant developments and changes.
Renamed the Middle Ages to reflect a more accurate understanding of the era.

Big Ideas

Middle Ages characterized by a decline in urbanization following the Roman Empire's fall.
Emergence of manorialism as a socio-economic system, with peasants bound to land and lords.
Social hierarchy structured through the feudal system, with defined classes and roles.

Feudal Society Structure

King at the top of the hierarchy, followed by nobility, vassals, knights, and peasants.
Nobles cared for large land areas in exchange for loyalty and military service to the king.

Nobility: Wealthy landowners with the power to govern large areas; responsible for taxes to the king and providing knights.
Vassals: Those who leased land (fiefs) from nobles, often knights who offered military service.
Knights: Trained warriors serving the king and nobility, rewarded with land for loyalty.
Peasants: Workers primarily bound as serfs to the land of the lord, with limited rights and obligations.

Economic Systems

Manorialism: Peasants farmed assigned land in exchange for protection and the right to live on the lord's land.
Three-field system: Agricultural innovation where one-third of elands remained fallow, improving yields and food security.

Land and Inheritance

Fief: Land granted from noble lords to vassals in exchange for service.
Primogeniture: Inheritance system where the firstborn son inherits land and titles.

Limited opportunities for social advancement; primarily accessible to those born into nobility.
Options included military service, apprenticeships in trades, or joining the clergy.

Gender Roles in the Middle Ages

Women faced significant restrictions with little opportunity for education or social change.
Marriage and joining the Church were primary paths for women to influence their social status.

Cultural Significance

The Church served as the central authority in Medieval life, guiding moral and social conduct.
The decline of the Roman Empire led to deurbanization and a focus on agrarian lifestyles.

Knights and Chivalry

Knights held a romanticized image but played a vital role in warfare and land defense during the Middle Ages.
Training from page to squire led to knighthood, requiring substantial resources for equipment.

Conclusion

The Middle Ages were marked by complex socio-political structures, cultural shifts, and gradual economic changes leading to the eventual rise of capitalism.### Knighthood and Chivalry
Accolade ceremony marks a young man's transformation into a knight, typically involving a lord tapping the knight on the shoulder with a sword.
"Bestowing accolades" today refers to honoring individual achievements.
Chivalry denotes a code of conduct for knights, emphasizing respect and honor towards women, the Church, and the vulnerable.
During the Middle Ages, knights were expected to protect the Church and aid the weak; their behavior was intertwined with Christian values.
Knighthood's significance declined in the late Middle Ages due to increased military demand and the rise of mercenaries over traditional knights.
By the end of the Middle Ages, most military forces were comprised of hired warriors, while knighthood transformed into a mere honorific title.
Modern knighthood serves as a nostalgic symbol, lacking prior military and religious ties; today, monarchs can confer knighthoods as an honor.

The Church's Role in Society

In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church held a dominant position in society, with the pope as the ultimate authority, even above kings.
Kings served as vassals to God, needing to uphold their loyalty to the Church, which was one of the wealthiest entities of the time.
The crowning of kings by the pope underscored the Church’s influence, although practical power dynamics shifted over time, especially during the Crusades.
Corruption within the Church was rampant, with many leaders deviating from original gospel teachings and prioritizing wealth over spiritual integrity.
Church structure included clergy (priests and monks) and laity (ordinary Christians); clergy hierarchy featured cardinals and bishops, often of noble birth.
Monastic communities operated under communal land ownership, contrasting with the private land practices of manorialism.

Tithing and Church Wealth

Cathedrals, known for their grandeur, were built over long periods and substantial financial investment, reflecting the Church's affluence.
Tithing involved Christians donating 10% of their income to the Church annually, regardless of their social status.
Serfs contributed tithes in the form of crops or livestock, while lords provided gold and wealth.
The Crusades also contributed to the Church's riches through the acquisition of treasures.
Ceremonial expenses like baptisms and burials added to the Church’s financial resources, supported by the tax-exempt status afforded to it.

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Description

Explore the structure and significance of the Medieval period in Europe with these flashcards. Understand the dynamics between the fall of the Roman Empire and the onset of the Renaissance. Test your knowledge about what defined the Middle Ages and its key elements.